Railway crossing



Aug. 1, 1944. 'r. RATKOWSKI RAILWAY CROSSING 2 Sheets -Shet 2 Filed Aug.51, 1942 INVENTOR, BY WzmmdM/zqwa/w Patented Aug. '1, 1944 asmwsrcaossmc- Thomas A. Ratkowski, Chicago Heights, 111., assign'or toAmerican Brake Shoe Company, a corporation of Delaware AmpllcationAugust 31, 1942, Serial No. 456,189

' 13 Claims. ('01. 246-464) The present invention relates to railwaycross- 1 ings and more particularly to railway crossings of the boxtype.

Among the objects of the present invention is to provide a railwaycrossing of the box type in which the base, the wall members upstandingfrom said base, and the horizontal web portion bridging the spacesbetween the wall members and providing intersecting flangeways and treadsurfaces, are all formed in one integral casting designed appropriatelyfor optimum foundry practice and uniform heat treatment that is resortedto for developing a desired structure in the metal, for instance, whenmanganese steel is used.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a railway crossingof the boxtype in which the base is of continuous construction, exceptfor the provision of openings necessary for the removal of core formingmaterial from the inside of the box structure and to provide forquenching and other necessary heat treatment; thus assuring proper loaddistribution at the crossing intersection.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide arailwaycrossing of the box type in which upstanding walls are providedat desired locations within the box structure which act as loadsustaining columns serving as substantial continuations of the webs ofadjacent running rails and to distribute wheel loads over the entirebase and to the supporting ties. i More particularly the presentinvention is directed to railway crossing structures of the box type inwhich the load sustaining webs or columns are disposed ininterconnecting relation to the outer walls forming the box structure,and which in themselves form box structures within the box formationdefining the crossing structure.

As a further desideratum of the invention, such load sustaining columnsor webs are disposedin ture embodying the novel features of constructionof the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view in cross section taken in the plane represented byline 22 of Figure 1 of the drawings;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of a modified form of crossing structureembodying additional features of construction comprehended by thepresent invention;

Figure 4 is a view in cross section taken in the plane represented byline 4-4, of Figure 3;

Figure 5is a top plan view of a modified form of crossing structureembodying additional features-of construction comprehended by thepresent invention Figure 6 is a view in cross section taken in the planerepresented by line 6-8 of Figure 5 of the drawings;

plane represented by line 8-8 of Figure 5 of the drawings.

Referring now more in detail to the drawings, a railway crossingselected to illustrate the present invention, is shown in Figure 1 ascomprising a casting of integral construction having a central bodyportion generally referred to as ,2, and the four crossing branches 4,8, 8 and i0 extending from said body portion and adapted to conmeet thesaid body portion with running rails of substantial parallel relation ator adjacent the tread surfaces defined by the flangeways developed inthe bridging web forming the top portion of the crossing structure.

As a further object of the present invention, said load sustainingcolumns may assume further importance in the structure involved, in thatthe same may be formed as continuations below one or more of the saidintersecting flangeways.

Other objects, features, capabilities and advantages are comprehended bythe invention, as will later appear and as are inherently possessedthereby.

Referring to the drawings- Figure l is a top plan view of a crossingstruca track in which the crossing is used.

' The crossing structure is of the box type, including a base i2 and anupper bridging web It interconnected by upstanding load sustaining wallsgenerally referred to as l5, and which have a formation as hereinaftermore fully set forth. The top bridging web it is formed with intersect--ing flangeways I8 and 20' comprising depending ribs 22 terminating shortof the base i2, and providing crossing comers 24, 26, 2B and 30developed by said flangeways.

The load sustaining walls It more particularly take the form;oftransverse wall sections 32, 34, 36 and 3B intersecting the ribs formingthe flangeways for the branches 4, 8, 8 and i0, respectively, and whichwall sections are interconnected by the substantially diagonallydisposed wall sections l0, I2, 44 and 48 extending betweenthe adjacentbranches of the crossing structure and being formed integral with thewall sections heretofore identified, as well as others such as 48, whichcomplete the crossing structure and provide a suitable arrangement forthe connection of the running rails connnected to said crossingbranches.

The embodiment as shown in Figure 1 is further characterized in thatadditional load supporting columns or walls are provided which ex-' tendinwardly from the walls hereinbefore decent branches is much the sameand involves the provision of the upstanding webs such, for example, as52 and 54,;Ioined integrally adjacent the crossing corner 24 andinterconnecting the base I! with the ribs 22 forming the flangeways l8and 20. Ihese load sustaining walls or columns are disposedsubstantially beneath the tread surfaces defining the crossing corner24,

and are effective in'the proper distribution of wheel loads passing overthe crossing. The embodiment of Figure 1, as'suggested above, includessimilar load sustaining webs which extend inwardly toward the othercrossing corners between adjacent branches to provide the inner boxstructure hereinbefore mentioned.

In order to facilitate the removal of the core forming material from theinterior compartments of the crossing structure and to permit properheat treatment of the casting, one or more openings such as 56 may beprovided in the base It. It is also understood that the crossing hereinexemplified may be formed to provide for any desired angle ofintersection of the crossing branches which are connected to therunningrails of the track in which the crossing is used.

Figure 3 represents a modification of the structure disclosed in Figure1 ofthe drawings,

tersecting substantially beneath the crossing corner 24. The loadsustainingwall N corresponds identically to the load sustaining wall llof the modification shown in Figure 3, forming a continuation of thewalls N and interconnectina' the rib forming the fiangeway III with thebase l2 directly therebeneath. The load sustaining wall or column is isformed as a continuation of the walls 52 and serves to interconnect therib forming the fiangeway II with the base I! directly therebeneath'This form of construction serves to tie the crossing corners 24, 2t andmore eifectively and provides essentially for the proper distribution ofwheel loads at said crossing corners, and particularly crossing corner24. As in the embodiment shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, the walls 52and Il may be provided with openings such as is to permit of the removalof core forming material and for proper heat treatment.

While there is described herein and upon the drawings shown anillustrative embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood thatthe invention is not limited thereto but may comprehend otherconstructions, arrangements of said fiangeways being developed asdownwardly substantially continuous web connecting said a base and topportion and forming the box-like for which use may be found undercertain circumstances, The structure as a whole, however,

conforms tothat shown in Figure 1 of the draw-- and 28, 30,respectively, the said load sustaining walls or columns intersecting thefiangeway II and. extending below and forming a connection between therib 22 forming said fiangeway and the base i2. This form of structureprovides additional means for distribution of wheel loads and providesmeans for interconnecting and tying together the load sustaining walls64. Because of the said load sustaining walls is and ll it has beenfound desirable to provide openings such as 82 in the load sustainingwalls 52 in order to permit removal of core forming material from theinterior compartments of the crossing structure and for proper heattreatment. These openings. however. are'of such a size. that no materialweakening of the crossing structure at the crossing corner results.

Figure 5 represents a further modification of the railway crossing shownin Figure 1 .of the drawings, the same embodying essentially thestructure therein disclosed except for the incorporation of additionalload sustaining walls or columns substantially for the purposesdescribed in connection with the modification shown in 1 Figure 3.

In this embodiment the said crossing structure incorporates the loadsustaining webs II and I formed integralwith the walls 82 and Is andinis presented ribs terminating short of said base, a

central body portion, said web being spaced throughout from the junctionof said ilangeways, and inner webs forming inner box-like portions withsaid first mentioned web and connecting the base and bridging web.substantially beneath at least each wheel bearing tread surface andextending substantially from said first mentioned web to theintersection of said fiangeways.

2. A railway crossing structure as described in claim 1, in which websinterconnecting with cer- I tain of said last-named webs are provided insubstantially parallel relation to form reinforcement gular relation toone another at one of the cross- I ing comers formed by said fiangewaysand extending between said second mentioned web beneath the ribs of saidflangeways at the Junction thereof.

A ay crossing structure as described in I claim 1, in which a web isprovided to form a reinforcement beneath at least one *of the ribs of Isaid fiangeways at the Junction thereof.

.5. A railway crossing structure comprising a member formed with abox-like centrally disposed body portion and a plurality of crossingbranches for connection to adjoining running rails, said crossingstructure including a base, a top portion in the-form of a bridging webhaving intersecting fiangeways and tread surfaces, said i'iangewaysbeing developed as downwardly presented ribs H terminating short of saidbase, a substantially continuous web connectingsaid base and top por-.tlon and forming the box-like centrai por tion, said web being spacedthroughout from and having substantially diagonally disposed portions inopposed relation to the crossing corners formed by said fiangeways, andinner webs forming inner box-like portions with said first mentioned weband connecting the base and bridging web substantially beneath at leasteach wheel bearing tread surface and extending substantially from v 9. Arailway crossing structure as described in claim 6, in which a web isprovided to form a reinforcement beneath at least one of the ribs ofsaid first mentioned web to the intersection of said ilangeways.

6. A railway crossing structure comprising a member formed with abox-like centrally disposed body portion and a plurality of crossingbranches for connection to adjoining running rails, said crossingstructure including a base, a top portion in the form of a bridging webhaving intersecting fiangeways and tread surfaces, said flangeways beingdeveloped as downwardly presented ribs terminating short of said base, asubstantially continuous web connecting said base and .top portion andforming the box-like central body portion, said web being spaced fromthe junction of said fiangeways, and inner webs form ing inner box-likeportions with said first-mentioned web and connecting the base andbridging web substantially beneath each of the crossing corners formedby said fiangeways and extending substantially from said first mentionedweb to the intersection of said flangeways;

7. A railway crossing structure as described ;in claim 6, in which websinterconnecting with certain of said'last-nanied webs are provided insubstantially parallel relation to form reinforcement beneath, one ofthe ribs of said flangeways at the Junction thereof.

8. A railway crossing structure as described-in claim 6; in which websinterconnecting with'certain of said last-named webs are provided inangular relation to one another at one of the crossing corners formed bysaid flangeways and extending between said second mentioned webs beneaththe ribs of said flangeways at the junction thereof.

said flangeways at the Junction thereof.

10. A railway crossing structure comprising a member formed with acentrally disposed body portion and a plurality of crossing branches forconnection to adjoining running rails, said crossing structure includinga substantially continuous base, a top portion in the form of a bridgingweb having intersecting flangeways and tread surfaces, said flangewaysbeing developed as downwardly presented ribs terminating short of saidbase, a substantially continuous web connecting said base and topportion formed in part by portions extending between the adjacentcrossing branches and in part by interconnecting portions disposedbeneath the ribs of said flangeways, said substantially continuous webbeing spaced throughout from the junction of said flangeways, and websdisposed between said base and top portion substantially beneath each ofthe corners formed by said flangeways.

11. A railway crossing structure as described in claim 10, in which websinterconnecting with certain of said last-named webs are provided insubstantially parallel relaticn'to form reinforcement beneath one or theribs of said flangeways at the junction thereof 12. A railway crossingstructure as described in claim'io, in which webs interconnecting withcertain of said last-named webs are provided in angular relationto oneanother at one 01. the crossing 'comers formed by said flangeways andextending between said second mentioned webs beneath the ribs in saidflangeways at the junction thereof.

13. A railway crossing structure as described.

in claim 10, in which a web is provided to form a reinforcement beneathat least one of the ribs '0! said flangeways at the junction thereof.

moms A. m'rxowsm.

